Descartes Dualism And The Mind Body Theory - 1322 Words

Descartes’ Dualism Rene Descartes dualism states that the mind and body are separate entities. The mind is a nonphysical, non-spatial substance; the mind and brain are separate existences, the brain is a part of the physical body and serves as a connection between the body and mind. Dualism is a hot topic of argument on whether the theory holds any validity or if it holds any truth. However, Cartesian dualism is a credible theory and has a lot of support to verify it. One major point in Descartes mind-body theory is the substance dualism, for Descartes, â€Å"had at least two different conceptions of substance. one is a conception of substance as a subject of properties; the other is a conception of substance as an independent entity†, (Journal†¦show more content†¦43, no. 1, 2005, pg. 117) This makes way for many to debate whether Descartes is a reliable source for knowledge or not, since he was not an intentional philosopher, can any theory of his be truly reliable. Also, his theory is difficult to prove since the mind is a non-tangible being and not measurable by any worldly standards. Philosophers, peers, and readers alike tend to misinterpret Descartes’ arguments are from doubt or imagination, when in fact his arguments come from precise understanding in what can and cannot be doubted. A well-known saying of Descartes’, â€Å"I think, therefore I am.†, stating that since he thinks, therefore he must exist. That fact within itself is undoubtable, if one can think, how can they not truly exist. He can doubt everything within the physical world, but he could not doubt the fact that he thinks. Physical objects that take up space are made up of matter called res extensa, the non-physical such as thoughts and ideas are made up of res cognita. The body is visible and changeable, while the mind is invisible, whole, and unchangeable. The mind and body may coexist but since one is doubtable and changeable, while the other is undoubtable and unchangeable they have different properties, and objects with different properties must be separate in existence. The mind-body theory brings to light the argument of the soul, and afterlife. The soul can be compared to that of the mind. It is separate from the body, cannotShow MoreRelatedIs Dualism Best? The Nature Of Consciousness? Essay1070 Words   |  5 PagesStudent ID Number: 00180694 November 2rd, 2016 Philosophy 101: Introduction to Philosophy Professor Bayne Dualism Best Explains the Nature of Consciousness The three theories we have discussed so far are the dualism theory of Plato and Descartes, the Aristotelian theory, and the Physicalism (identity) theory of Place and Strong. The identity of consciousness means that if you have the same consciousness, you are the same person, and if not conscience, you are not the same person. The thing thatRead MoreFor Years, Philosophers Have Debated The Mind-Body Problem,1195 Words   |  5 Pagesphilosophers have debated the mind-body problem, the issue of what mental phenomena are and how they relate to the physical world. Philosopher Descartes believed in substance dualism, the belief that the mind and the body are two different things. In this essay, I will examine Descartes’ substance dualism theory. First, I will review Descartes’s theory and reasons that support it. Then, I will review objections with Descartes’s argument. After that, I will imagine how Descartes would respond to these objectionsRead MoreThe Theory Of The Mind Body Dualism1232 Words   |  5 PagesRenà © Descartes was a French mathematician, scientist, and philosopher of the 16th Century, who, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica, â€Å"was one of the first to abandon scholastic Aristotelianism and created the first version of the modern mind-body dualism or emotion† (Encyclopedia Britannica). Born on March 31, 1596, he was dubbed as the Father of Modern Philosophy. His theory on the mind-body dualism, also known as Cartesian Dualism, created a stem of the modern problem of the relationship betweenRead MoreThe Mind / Brain Identity Theory1718 Words   |  7 Pagesexperiences. The former is associated with one having a (non-physical) mind, which contains beliefs, desires, feelings and so on, while the latter involves having a (physical) brain. The Mind/Body problem questions whether the mind and brain are the same or different objects. For a long time, the interpretation of these experiences has been much debated b y philosophers and scientists. One influential interpretation is Descartes’s Dualism of substances, which became one of the most lasting legacies in hisRead MoreRenà © Descartes and Thomas Hobbes Essay1497 Words   |  6 PagesDuring the sixteen hundreds, the French philosopher Renà © Descartes laid the foundations for the beginnings of Cartesian Dualism. In contrast, the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued against dualism in favor of materialism. Recently, Cartesian Dualism, and dualism in general has fallen out of favor as materialism arose as a more plausible and explanatory theory regarding the interrelationships between body and mind. The translation Descartes’ writing in the Meditations is far more cryptic than Hobbes’Read MoreEssay about Descartes Theory of Substance Dualism791 Words   |  4 PagesDescartes Theory of Substance Dualism Throughout the history of man, philosophers have tried to come up with an explanation of where our minds, or consciousness, came from and how we are able to have a nonphysical characteristic of ourselves. Does our physical brain automatically give us nonphysical characteristics like feelings, thoughts, and desires or is there something else there, the mind, that interacts with our bodies and makes us feel, think, and desire? Also, is the mind theRead MoreThe Mind-Body Problem Essay957 Words   |  4 PagesThe Mind-Body Problem The mind-body problem, which is still debated even today, raises the question about the relationship between the mind and the body. Theorists, such as Renà © Descartes and Thomas Nagel, have written extensively on the problem but they have many dissenting beliefs. Descartes, a dualist, contends that the mind and body are two different substances that can exist separately. Conversely, Nagel, a dual aspect theorist, contends that the mind and body are not substances but differentRead MoreCartesian Dualism And Transhumanism : Theories Within Their Time Contexts1510 Words   |  7 PagesCartesian dualism and transhumanism are both controversial theories within their time contexts. Leahey (2004) describes Descartes dualism as the separation of the body and the soul. The soul is immaterial and is the location for thought, consciousness, and the Cartesian Theatre, and controls the actions of the material body. Transhumanism theorises that technology will enhance and supersede human evolut ion (Elkins 2011,) as technology will become an extension of ourselves, or already is. I will exploreRead MoreThe Problem Of Separation And Dualism1399 Words   |  6 Pagesdebates is the ‘mind-body problem’; this name suggests a problem of separation and dualism. Dualism shall be claimed, it is an intuitive position; it offers an explanation of the mind and body in terms of substances (Descartes, 1641) or properties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested byRead MoreThe Problem Of Separation And Dualism1399 Words   |  6 Pagesdebates is the ‘mind-body problem’; this name suggests a problem of separation and dualism. Dualism shall be claimed, it is an intuitive position; it offers an explanation of the mind and body in terms of substances (Desc artes, 1641) or properties (Strawson, 1959), in which the mind is somehow considered as a non-physical thing, thus separated from the physical world. In contrast, a rival view is that there are only physical things, hence there is no separation between mind and body as suggested by